The “2nd round state” label is often applied to Michigan St. basketball as a pejorative. Although there is an air of condescension surrounding this concept, it’s not actually a negative. Because after all, who, outside of Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, Kansas and a select few in this rarified are, can claim to be “1st round state?”
Or “NBA Draft Lottery State?”
Michigan St. Coach Tom Izzo said last season, “now anyone who stays all four years, people look at you like you’re diseased or something.”
It turns out, “2nd round state” is actually a bit of a misnomer. The shoe doesn’t quite fit.
Obviously, Izzo has shown us that you can consistently win with these types of players- those who are great, but not yet that great. College hoops’ version of Saturday Night Live; “the not ready for prime time players.” Since 1999, Michigan St. has reached seven Final Fours, and no other program has more than five. Branden Dawson will very likely become a second draft pick this June. (Full 2015 mock draft here)
“I think Branden’s a second-round player,” ESPN Analyst Jay Bilas said today.
“He’s an extraordinary athlete and big-time rebounder. He’s undersized, and he doesn’t shoot the ball, and that’s a little bit of a concern. But he can defend.
“I believe he’s hard-nosed. He does have some issues and questions about how long he sustained high-level effort, because when he puts high level effort out there, he’s a beast.”
Here’s more on Branden Dawson.
Denzel Valentine projects as a second rounder in 2016. (Full 2016 mock draft here)
Sounds dismissive, but again it’s really not. You can’t argue agains the results. Izzo is now 13-9 all time in the NCAA Tournament in games played where Michigan St. was the lower seed. Izzo now holds the all-time record for wins as a lower seed. Rollie Massimino, the legendary former Villanova Coach, previously held the record with 11. The Big Ten placed two teams in Final Four for 8th time, most in NCAA tournament history. The last four times it has happened, Michigan St. was one of the two B1G schools.
All-time, Michigan State has had 58 players selected in the NBA Draft, including 18 first rounders. They are 16th in the nation in total NBA Draft picks during the past 25 years and tied for 11th nationally since the new millenium began.
Adreian Payne went 15th overall and Gary Harris (19th overall) went in last season’s NBA Draft; joining Jamie Feick (1996-2nd round), Mateen Cleaves (2000-1st round), Morris Peterson (2000-1st round),Jason Richardson (2001-1st round), Zach Randolph (2001-1st round), Andre Hutson (2001-2nd round), Marcus Taylor (2002-2nd round), Erazem Lorbek (2005-2nd round), Shannon Brown (2006-1st round), Maurice Ager (2006-1st round), Paul Davis (2006-1st round) 2nd, Goran Suton (2009-2nd round), and Draymond Green (2012-1st round 2nd) as NBA Draft picks under Izzo.
(Editor’s note: the MSU official athletic site incorrectly listed Davis and Green as first round picks. Both actually went early in the second round. Eight Michigan St. players were selected in the first round under Izzo, while seven were second-rounders. The school’s website incorrectly listed ten first rounders and five second-rounders).
However, the point still remains. MSU has actually become less of a “Second Round State” under Izzo than it was before.
Some people often perceive the NBA’s second round to be mostly populated by guys who were really tremendous in college, but just not great enough (or quite ready yet) to leave early for the NBA.
However, if it works, go with it. In the court of public opinion, John Calipari has cornered the market when it comes to winning with one-and-dones; or as he calls it “succeed and proceed.” Coach Cal has found a comfort zone and a formula that works. I guess, maybe you could say the same about Tom Izzo and Michigan St.
It’s just a different formula and a different method to March Madness. In the last 17 years, the Spartans have participated in the Elite 8 more often (9 times) than they have not (8).
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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